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E3

Everything We Announced at the Xbox E3 2018 Briefing

by Will Tuttle, Xbox Wire Editor in Chief Posted on June 10, 2018June 11, 2018

Sunday’s Xbox E3 Briefing was the largest in Microsoft’s history with more than 6,000 people, including more than 1,000 fans, invited to attend in the Microsoft Theater. Microsoft announced it is doubling its game development studios and showcased a record 52 games on stage including 18 console launch exclusives and 15 world premieres. The diverse lineup included games for every type of player, from exclusives like Forza Horizon 4, Halo Infinite and Gears 5, and independent titles like Session, Below, Ashen and Tunic to some of the biggest blockbuster games coming in the next year like Fallout 76, Tom Clancy’s The Division 2, Kingdom Hearts 3, Devil May Cry 5, Battlefield V, Metro... Read more

Games

E3 2018: Saving the Universe in the Wildly Ambitious Beyond Good & Evil 2

by Ben Silverman, Xbox Wire Contributor Posted on June 21, 2018June 21, 2018

Rumored for years but finally confirmed at E3 2017, Ubisoft’s space pirate opera Beyond Good & Evil 2 has long been atop gamer wish lists. And for good reason: the 2003 original was an instant cult classic, earning several Game of the Year awards on the strength of its incredible storytelling and memorable characters. Players patiently waited for news of its follow-up – Beyond Good & Evil was initially planned as a trilogy – but for well over a decade, a sequel existed only in the minds of passionate fans. Based on a guided demo at E3 2018, however, we can confirm that Beyond Good & Evil 2 is not only real, it’s one of the most ambitious video games ever conceived.... Read more

Join the Hyper Universe Xbox One Beta 6/22 – 6/25!

by Scott, Xbox Program Manager Posted on June 21, 2018June 21, 2018

Hyper Universe is coming to Xbox One, and today the Hyper Universe Xbox One Beta kicks off for all Xbox Insiders!** Experience MOBA action at Hyper speed! Fast-paced combat and easy to pick up and play controls get you right into the action in this Free to Play 2D MOBA. Choose from a diverse cast of colorful Hypers, each with their own unique abilities. Leap into intense 4v4 combat or play Co-op against AI. Read more about Hyper Universe and this weekend’s playtest (including roster, maps, and bonuses for participating!) on the official Hyper Universe website! The Hyper Universe Beta kicks off tomorrow: Pacific (UTC -7): Fri, June 22 10:00 AM PDT - Mon, June 25 10:00 AM... Read more

Games

Go from the Pond to the Pros in NHL 19 on Xbox One

by Mitchell South, EA Sports, NHL Writer Posted on June 20, 2018June 20, 2018

NHL fans! Lace up your skates and get ready to play against some of the greatest legends in the game when NHL 19 comes to Xbox One on September 14, 2018. Play with or against 200 of the greatest legends of the game, or go from the pond to the pros as you compete on outdoor rinks surrounded by stunning landscapes in never-before-seen environments. Powered by Real Player Motion Technology, NHL 19 is our most-authentic hockey experience yet. The Great Outdoors As mentioned above, NHL 19 will take the game back to ponds. For the first time in franchise history, compete in the EA Sports Hockey League, NHL Threes, Play Now, and brand-new modes NHL Ones and Pro-Am on the pond. In NHL Ones,... Read more

Games

Minecraft The Incredibles Skin Pack

Games

Minecraft Bedrock Edition Now Available on Nintendo Switch

Games

The Spectrum Retreat Checks in to Xbox One on July 13

by Matt Southern, Head of Development, Ripstone Posted on June 20, 2018June 20, 2018

One of the best things that can happen when you make games for a living is to discover an amazing new talent before anyone else does. That’s not quite the way it went with Dan Smith, as he’d already been discovered by BAFTA and given their Young Game Designer award for his demo Spectrum before we fell in love with the game and signed it at Ripstone. But it still feels like we’ve been working with someone who has only just embarked on what will be an absolutely blistering game-making career -- and I think it shows in what has now become The Spectrum Retreat. I’m excited to share that pre-orders for the game are available right now with a 10% discount ahead of the game’s launch... Read more

Games

Useful Tips and Tricks to Bring with You to the Vermintide 2 Beta on Xbox One

by Hanna Holmgren, Designer, Fatshark Posted on June 20, 2018June 20, 2018

If you’ve played the previous game, Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide, you’ll know that there’s more strategy to the game than one might think. In celebration of Vermintide 2’s beta launch on Xbox One, we have gathered some tips and tricks to give you an edge before you charge headfirst into battle. Dodging and Blocking Though it may seem like obvious advice, it is crucial in a fight that you learn how and when to dodge and block. Make sure you are light on your feet with the sliding movement (press X whilst moving sideways or backwards to slide) and practice your positioning to reduce the amount of damage you take. This is especially important during fights against hordes... Read more

Games

E3 2018: High-Flying Anthem Aims to Thrill

by Ben Silverman, Xbox Wire Contributor Posted on June 20, 2018June 20, 2018

Bioware may be best known for thoughtful role-playing greats like Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and Baldur’s Gate, but for their next trick, the legendary developer is building something with considerably more punch. We’re of course talking about Anthem. EA’s shared-world shooter made quite a splash at E3, initially in a lengthy look during the EA Play press conference, but also through a few behind-closed-doors hands-on demos. We were lucky enough to sneak into one such presentation and came away extremely impressed with the game’s tight controls, beautiful world, and explosive action. Anthem’s sci-fi world was abandoned by the god-like Shapers, who apparently left their... Read more

Games

Play 7 Days to Die for Free This Weekend with Xbox Live Gold

by Scott Butterworth, Creative Communications Specialist, Telltale Games Posted on June 20, 2018June 19, 2018

In honor of its two-year anniversary, seminal survival-horror RPG 7 Days to Die will be free to all Xbox Live Gold members playing on Xbox One from Thursday, June 21 at 12:01 a.m. PST until Monday, June 25 at 11:59 p.m. PST. During that time, you’ll be able to download the full game and explore, craft, build, and survive until the clock runs out. If you decide one long weekend of zombie slaying isn’t enough, you can purchase the game for 50% off during the Telltale Games Publisher Sale, which offers savings on nearly every game in Telltale’s award-winning catalog and runs from Tuesday, June 19 until Monday, June 25. Set in an unforgiving post-apocalyptic world overrun with... Read more

Games

Xbox One Storytellers: Telltale on Batman: The Enemy Within

by Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor Posted on June 20, 2018June 20, 2018

It’s hard to match the narrative scope and immersive experience that a compelling story-driven game has over other storytelling mediums, allowing players not only to fall into the world of a well-crafted story but to experience it firsthand. These types of games can empower someone with a new perspective or let us live a double-life as a superhero. Narrative-driven games allow us to become someone we’re not, which is perhaps the biggest reason we enjoy these experiences. Now, with the power of Xbox One X, creators can bring us even closer to their vision. With our Xbox One Storytellers series, we’ll sit down with some of the industry’s greatest creators to talk about the strength of... Read more

War Thunder Founder Packs Available Now on Xbox One

by Viacheslav Bulannikov, Project Lead, War Thunder Posted on June 19, 2018June 19, 2018

From the start, our vision for War Thunder was always ambitious. We set out to create a massively multiplayer online game featuring aviation, armored vehicles, and warships from the pre-World War II 1930s to the height of Cold War in the 1980s. War Thunder reflects real-life warfare where nations unleashed joint military operations. Air battles feature AI-controlled ground vehicles that attackers and bombers will destroy to achieve victory. In Ground Forces battles, players are not only using tanks, but take to the skies (once they earn enough points) to rain fire and destruction from above -- which the opposition counters with aircraft and anti-air platforms of their own. As a result,... Read more

Games

A Rundown of Windows 10 Gaming Hardware Announced at E3 2018

by Will Tuttle, Xbox Wire Editor in Chief Posted on June 19, 2018June 19, 2018

At this year’s E3, PC hardware partners Lenovo and Dell both announced new gaming devices powered by Windows 10 that join the PC gaming mix, all ready to go with built-in Mixer streaming for low-latency, interactive moments for viewers and streamers to engage with other gamers. Remember, a mobile gaming PC can be a great companion for staying in touch with your save games when on the move; with Xbox Play Anywhere, you can buy a game once and play it on both your Xbox One and any of these Windows 10 PCs – picking up your saved games right where you left off, whether switching from console to PC or the other way around! First up, a rundown of Lenovo hardware: Lenovo Legion Y530... Read more

Games

WWE 2K19 Features Cover Superstar AJ Styles, Releases October 9 on Xbox One

by Bryan Vore, Digital/Social Marketing Manager, 2K Posted on June 18, 2018June 18, 2018

The WWE 2K cover reveal day is always huge for us, but today’s announcement is particularly special. We scored one of the most talented and dynamic WWE Superstars working today. On top of that, he’s one of the best video game players on the WWE roster. The WWE 2K19 cover Superstar is none other than “The Phenomenal One,” AJ Styles. This nearly 20-year veteran is respected and admired by fans and colleagues alike as one of the best to ever step in the ring. He’s the current WWE Champion, having just defended his title at Sunday’s WWE Money in the Bank event. We’re excited to work with him through the release of the game and beyond for special activities we have... Read more

Games

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for June 19 – 22

by Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor Posted on June 16, 2018June 16, 2018

Welcome to Next Week on Xbox, where we cover all the new games coming soon to Xbox One! Every week the team at Xbox aims to deliver quality gaming content for you to enjoy on your favorite gaming console. Read on below and click on each of the game profiles for pre-order details (dates are subject to... Read more

Games

E3 2018: Playing in the Dark World of Ashen on Xbox One

by Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor Posted on June 15, 2018June 15, 2018

At last year’s E3, we went hands-on with an earlier version of Ashen, an adventure game that aims to blend the difficulty of Dark Souls with the mystery of a dark fantasy tale. Featuring a co-op mechanic that allows you to join a friend on an adventure – or with an AI stand-in if no one is available – it was great to see more of the game at this year’s E3 and how its world, lore, and quest system have all started to expand, creating an even more intriguing and complex adventure that we’re looking forward to playing more of when the game launches day and date on Xbox Game Pass later this year. One of the more striking things I appreciate from the game’s simple, direct, and... Read more

Games

E3 2018: Leave Aliens for Dead in Co-Op Shooter Earthfall

by Ben Silverman, Xbox Wire Contributor Posted on June 15, 2018June 18, 2018

The elevator pitch for Holospark Games’ upcoming game Earthfall could be adequately summed up in five extremely awesome words: Left 4 Dead with aliens. That’s very much by design. It’s been nearly a decade since Valve’s beloved co-op survival shooter blew away gamers with its intense action and innovative AI. Holospark hopes to update that game’s riotous multiplayer by changing the enemy and adding a few new twists. The otherworldly bad guys certainly don’t come in peace. Taking place 30 years in the future, Earthfall’s invaders arrive on our planet courtesy a meteorite slamming into the Pacific Northwest. When the government and military fail to act, average,... Read more

Games

Resident Evil 2 Remake Coming to Xbox One on January 25

by Will Tuttle, Xbox Wire Editor in Chief Posted on June 15, 2018June 15, 2018

The Resident Evil series revolutionized the survival horror genre in video games, bringing terror to the masses with its blend of realistic zombies, gore, environmental puzzles, and memorable locales. Now, 20 years after its initial release in 1998, Capcom has announced that a remake of Resident Evil 2 will be hitting Xbox One on January 25, 2019. Resident Evil 2 will be a complete remake of the original game, albeit one updated more modern gameplay mechanics, improved over-the-shoulder camera, and gorgeous visuals thanks to the RE Engine that helped to power last year’s terrifying Resident Evil 7 biohazard. The game has been built from the ground up to make Raccoon City’s... Read more

Games

This Week on Xbox: E3 2018 Edition

by Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor Posted on June 15, 2018June 15, 2018

We know you’re busy and might miss out on all the exciting things we’re talking about on Xbox Wire every week, especially during E3 2018. If you’ve got a few minutes, we can help remedy that. We’ve pared down the past week’s E3 news into one easy-to-digest article for all things Xbox. Be sure to come back every Friday to find out what’s happening This Week on Xbox! Announcements and Reveals E3 2018: Microsoft and McLaren Continue Storied Partnership with Forza Horizon 4 During the Xbox E3 2018 briefing, we announced that the 2019 McLaren Senna will grace the cover of Forza Horizon 4, the latest entry in the award-winning Forza Horizon series, and we couldn’t be more... Read more: This Week on Xbox: E3 2018 Edition

New Preview Alpha & Alpha Skip Ahead 1806 System Update – 6/15/18

by Bradley Rossetti, Xbox Insider Team Lead Posted on June 15, 2018June 15, 2018

Starting at 2:00 p.m. PDT today, members of the Xbox One Preview Alpha and Alpha Skip Ahead Ring will begin receiving the latest Xbox One system update (1806.180612-1920). Read on for more about the new feature, fixes and known issues in the latest 1806 system update. New Features: Game Pass Tab Preview Alpha and Alpha – Skip Ahead users will notice that the Entertainment tab has been replaced on the dashboard with Game Pass content. This new tab allows for easy access to the Game Pass catalog and is only available in the US region at this time, so Preview Alpha and Alpha Skip Ahead Insiders in regions outside of the US will continue to see the Entertainment tab. If you... Read more

E3 2018: Gaming for Everyone, a Conversation with Phil Spencer

by Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor Posted on June 15, 2018June 15, 2018

E3 is always an incredible time to come together to appreciate the breadth of creative energy that abounds in our industry and to celebrate what’s ahead for gamers. At this year’s E3 Coliseum series, Phil Spencer, Head of Xbox sat down with Tina Summerford, Head of Programming at Xbox, to discuss Microsoft’s approach to gaming, his perspective on E3 and to hear why the industry has a responsibility to make gaming for everyone. Other topics discussed during the panel were the unique games Xbox is looking to bring to the ID@Xbox program, insight into the creation of the Xbox E3 2018 Briefing, from matching thematic elements to creating an engaging experience, and the creation of the... Read more